Best available cop



BEST AVAILABLE COP Dec. 14 1926. 1,610,228

5 H. ALLFREE ET AL ELECTRI CAL CONTROLLER Filed April 28, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 BEST AVAILABLE COP Dec. 14 1926.

E. H. ALLFREE ET AL ELECTRICAL CONTROLLER 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed A oril 28.

BEST AVAILABLE COP Patented Dec. 14, 1926.

UNITED stares 4 1,610,228 ATENT other;

EDWIN ALLFREE AND ALBERT R. WILLIAMS, OF IRONTON, OHIO, ASSIGNORS TO THE IRONTON ENGINE COMPANY, OF IRONTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

ELECTRICAL CONTROLLER.

Application filed April 28, 1925. Serial No. 26,377.

This invention relates to an eiectrical-c-ontroller of the flame-proof character which is particularlyadapted and used in connection with electrically propelled mine locomotives, or electrical apparatus installed in proximity to explosive or other industrial plants where a spark from the electrical equipment might possibly ignite the exterior and surrounding explosive gases or atmosphere.

The objects of this invention are as'follows: j

First, todevise a controller of the character above identified which is so constructed and arranged as to provide a quick and efiicient way of, inspecting all the parts and making allthe necessary repairs and adjustments without being required to entirely dismantle, reassemble, or adjust the several parts.

Second, to provide a controller which not only is flamero f but is arranged with a cover which is simple in constructlon, easily and firmly secured with atight seal and quickly detached to enable thecontrolling mechanism of the controller to be removed as a unit from the casmg and placed in such a positlon as to expose all the elements for a thorough inspection or adjustment and easy repairs if found necessaryj Third, tOPIOVldB a controller with a cover which is cheap to manufacture and consists of a minimum number of parts and which can be assembled and'applied to the casing to insure 'a perfect flame-proof controller or removed from the casing without the use of I any special tools or skilled labor.

Fourth, to provide a controller of the: character indicated in whlch the lnner controlling mechanism can be seated in said hasing or removed therefrom as a unitary structure and all the necessary and proper electrical connections with the terminals from the current supply, are automatically broken or made in the act of withdrawing from or replacing the controlling mechanism within 7 the casing.

Fifth, other objects and advantages of the invention will be manifest and appear from the detailed construction of the structural characteristics and relative arrangements of the parts and manner of the assembling and using the same.

The invention consists of structural characteristics and relative arrangements of parts which will be hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings in which similar reference characters indicate the same parts in the several figures,

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section and front elevation on line 1-1 of Figure 2.

.L iguie 2 1s a top plan view with a sectlon of the cover broken away.

Figure 3 is a section on Figure 1, and,

Figure 1 is a section on line I VIV of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawin line IIIIII of s in which a controller of the cylinder or drum type is illns-' trated and rotations of said cylinder or drum effect various combinations or circuits, as

shown for example in U. S. Patent No. 1,466,

011 to W. L. Yonmans dated August 28, 1923, isthe enclosing casing having preferably an integral and closed bottom 11 and an upper open top 12, and integrally formed to said lead wires lt, 14, by lugs 17, and connections 171, 171 passingfthrough and insulated from Figure 1.

On the inner side of the bottom 11 of the casing lO-are provided vertically projecting guide pins 18,18 mounted in and securely the casing 10,-as indicated in fastened to supporting bosses .19, 19, as shown i in Figure 1, for purposes to bepresently de scribed. I 1

is the controller or drum shaft for rotating the cylinder or drum 21 in which are properly secured the contact segments 22, 22, as is clearly shown in Figure 4, and exv plained in U. S; Patent No. 1,466,011, cited,

and needs no further explanation.

A series or" contact fingers 23, 23, are mounted on insulated upright rods 24, 2-1 and secured on the shunt 25 of each finger 23, is provided a terminal lug 26 in which is fastened one end of a terminal wire 27, and the other end of the wire 27 is attached to :1 lug 2S insulated from the carrying plate 29. 2 11 is a finger base supporting said fingers 23, and is insulated from and is ri 'idly clamped to said rods 21, 24, by means of clamp 2 12, clamp bolts 2 13 and nuts 2&4,

BEST AVAILABLE COP said bolts 243 being extended to provide a support for-shunt and terminal lug 26,

being clamped between nuts 244 and 245, as 4 shown in Figure 4.

Electrically connected with said insulated lug 28 ispro vided a contact blade 30 which is adapted to be seated in its corresponding fixed contact blade 15, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, said blades 15, 15, being as heretofore described secured stationary to 'the casing 10 and in the lateral pocket 16 offset frointhe casing 10, as' shown in Figure 1.

From Figures 1 and 2 it will be seen that the'controller mechanism'is forrned as a unitary structure and is effected by providing in addition to the insulated upright rods 24,

24, preferablytwo other rods 31, 31, which act as spacer and tie'rods bybe'ing connected orcontro'ller shaft- 20 "are rotatably mounted at their ends with the upper and lower mo unting plates33 and 34. The'nds of the drum or journaled in the upper and lower mountmg lates' 33'aiid' 34, and the upper end of the rum shaft 20 projects through the upper mounting plate '33 and is provided with a key 36 to receiveth e'inner hollow end 35 of the operating lever 37, said end 35 having a key-way 'to receive'the key 36, and the boss or recess {of thehollow end 35 being a slip fit on the uppe'rend of the drum shaft 20, and the shaft of the operating lever 37 being rotatably mounted in the cover 38 to be presently described 39 is an inverted L-shaped bracket which has its inwardly projecting end securely fastened andisupported by upper ends of the rods 31 projecting through the upper mounting'plate 33, while its downwardly extending portion securely fastened to and supporting the'carrying plate 29 to which are secured and insulated the upper and lower series'of lugs 28, 28 carrying upper and lower'contact blades 30, 30, heretofore described.

The lower mounting plate 34 is provided with guide openings or holes 40 for the purpose of receiving and acting as seats for the upwardly projecting pins 18, 18 secured in the inside of bottom of easing, as shown in Figure 1, and act as guides and retaining means for the lower end of the unitary controller mechanism when repla'ced'or seated in the casing 10.

From the foregoing disclosure it will be seen-that the mounting plates 33, 34, connecting rods 31, 31, drum 21, with its shaft 20, upright supporting rods 24, 24, with its fingers 23, 23, shunts 25, 25, lugs 26, 26, wires 27, 27, lugs 28, 28, contact blades 30, 30, carrying plate 29 with its sustaining bracket 39 are assembled and connected together as a unitary structure and may be inserted into the chamber within the casing 10 or removed therefrom as a single element with one operation and all the proper electrical connections are automatically made or broken withflange 41 having an under-cut flange 42, and

may be provided with a step seat 43 to re ceive the cover 38, as shown, and the upper peripheral surface of the cover 38 is beveled for purpose tobe presently disclosed.

44 is a split clamping ring composed preferably of two similar semi-circular sections joined together at one of their ends by a hinge connection 45, and their other ends are provided with bifurcated lugs 46 and 47 said bifurcated lug 46 adapted to receive a pivoted clamping bolt 48 having a threaded end to receive a nut 49 and an opening 50 throughwhich may be passed the bow of a pad lock -51, which construction permits the clamping bolt 48 to be swung clear of the half of the clamping ring 44 which is adjacent to the nut 49 without entirely removing said nut, as 'will bereadily understood.

The upper and inner face 52 of the clamp ing' ring 44 is beveled to conform to the beveled face 4310f the cover 38 and the lower inner face of the clamping ring 44 is straight to conform to the lower face 42 of the flange 41. The inside diameter of the clamping ring 44 is longer than the outside diameters f the interior of the casing 10 and prevent the 1. 1

emission'of a spark or fire within the casing to the exterior thereof.

To open the enclosing casing 10, the lock 51 is removed from the perforated end of the clamping bolt 48, and the nut 48 is 22;

turned back on its thread a sufficient amount to permit said bolt 48 to swing clear of thelug 47, and the clamping ring 44 is then opened up and removed free of the flange 41 and cover 38, when said cover 38 to- 3 gether with the operating lever 37 and its hollow end 35 are removed from the top of the casing 10 and shaft 20, and to remove the controlling mechanism unit, it is only necessary to lift said controlling unit out of the casing 10.

To reassemble the electrical controller, the controlling switch or unit is lowered into the casing with the guide holes 40 in the lower plate 34 engaging the guide pins 18, 18 mounted on the bosses 19, 19. The controlling mechanism or unit is then adjusted so that its contact blades 30, 30 are directly over or about to engage or enter the spaces between the sections of the contact blades 15,

15 onlugsilfixed to the casing 10, when the controlling unit is forced down until the bottom mounting plate 34 is at rest on the supporting bosses l9, l9 and the contact blades 30,30 have been pushed down to be firmly and-properly. engaged throughout their width and depth between the bifurcated ends ofthe upper and lower rows of stagered contact blades .15, 15, as shown in igures Land 3. The cover 38 is then replaced on the top of the casing-and adjusted so that the inner hollow end 35 of the controller-lever 37 properly engages, the key 36 at the top of the drum-shaftQO, as shown in Figure 1, when the.-- amping ring ,44: ,isapplied and drawntogetherQ-by. clamping bolt 48 and nut 49 randflas its diameteris decreased the contact faees-oithe cover- 38 and top of the casing lO'aredrawn tightly together, as pre- 'ouslydescribed; and for; purposes: heretoifore. I expl n I i Fromhe ;toregoing description of the construction and arrangement of. parts and mode of operation, it will be readily seen that a flame proof controller has been devised whieh icomprises a minimum number of highly;efiici ent cooperating elements of simple construction, which can be cheaply manufactured: and readily installed or assembled ondisassembled or renewed at aminimum-of expense and without the use of skilledlabor or special tools. i It also be seen that all the objects and advantages recited inthe statement of invention have been fully carried out, and while the reterredform has been shown and descri ed,sit is to be understood that many changes will suggest themselves without in any way changing the material features of construction or departing from the spirit of the invention as expressed in the claims.

\Vhat is claimed is 1. An electrical controller comprising a casing having an open end and stationary contacts, a controlling mechanism adapted to be inserted or withdrawn from said casing as a unitary structure through said open end, the said controlling mechanism having fixed contactsmounted thereon, contact fingers mounted on, an insulated supporting base, and forming a part of said controlling mechanism, and means for flexibly and electrically connecting said fixed contacts and said contact fingers, the said fixed contacts constructed, arranged and adapted to automatically engage and disengage said stationary contacts ofthe casing on the insertion or withdrawal of the controlling mechanism in or from the casing, a cover for said casing so constructed, arranged and adapted to close the interior of said casing, and means for securing said cover to said casing BEST AVAILABLE COP :3

as a unitary structure through said open end, the said controlling mechanism having fixed contacts mounted thereon, and contact fingers mounted on an insulated supporting base, said base forming. apart of said controlling mechanism, and means for making a positive connection of said fixed contacts and contact fingers, the said fixed contacts so constructed, arranged and adapted to airtomatically engage or disengage the; said stationary contacts of said casing on the insertion or withdrawal of the controlling mechanism in or from said casing, a cover independently removable of the controlling mechanism for said casing soconstructed, arranged and adapted to close the interior of said casing, and means for securing said coverto said casing, the said covervvhaving mounted thereon the operatinghandle and shaft vfor said handle.

3. An electrical controller comprising a casing having an open end and stationary contacts, a controlling mechanism adapted to be inserted or withdrawnlongitudinally from said casing as a unitary structure through said open end, the said controlling mechanism having iixed, contacts mounted thereon, contact iingersmwunted on an insulated supporting base forming a part of said controlling mechanism, means ,for flexibly connecting the said fixed-contacts and said fingers, the said fixed contacts so constructed, arranged and adapted to automatically engage or disengage the said stationary contacts of said casing on the insertion or withdrawal of the controlling mechanism in or from said casing, a cover independently removable of the controlling mechanism for said open end of said casing so constructed, arranged and adapted to close the interior of said casing and said 1."

cover having mounted-thereon means for operating the controlling mechanism, the said operating means arranged to auto matically engage or disengage the control ling mechanism when cover is applied to or removed from the said cosine. and means for securing said cover to said eating.

4. An electrical cont-roller con'iprising a casing having an open end and stationary contacts suit-ably insulated from said casing, acontrolling mechanism adapted to be inserted and withdrawn longitudinall; from said casing as a unitary structure through said open end, the controlling mechanism having fixed contacts mounted thereon and suitably insulated from the main body of said controlling mechanism, the said contact lingers being mounted on an insulated supporting base forming a part of said controllingrnechanism, means tor flexibly fc'onnecting the said fixed contacts and said fingers, the said fixed contacts arranged and adapted to engage or disengage: the stationary contacts of said casing on the insertionor withdrawal of the controlling mechanism in or from said casing, a cover for said open end of said casing so constructed, arranged and adapted to close the interior of casing-and said cover having mounted thereon means for operating the controlling mechanism,-the said operating means arranged to automatically engage or disengage the controllingmechaniism when-the cover is applied to or removed from the said casing without disturbing or moving the controlling mechanism or any oil its parts, and means for securing said cover to said casin 5. An electrical controller comprising a casing having anopen end, stationary contacts-insulated from said casing, a controlling mechanismadapted to be inserted or withdrawn from said casing as a unitary structure through said open end, said controlling mechanism having fixed contact-s mounted thereon and suitably insulated therefrom contact fingers, the said contact fingers being suitably mounted on an insulated supporting base forming a part of said controlling mechanism, and flexible means for connecting the said fixed contacts and said controller fingers, the said fixed contacts constructed,'arranged and adapted to engage or disengage the -'stationary-contacts of said casing on the insertion or withdrawal of the controlling mechanism from said casing, a cover for said open end of said casing, means ioroperating controlling mechanism mounted on said cover,'.the said operating means arranged to connect with or disconnect from the controlling mechanism on attaching or detachin'g'the' said c'over' to or from said casing, the-said cover-so constructed, arranged and adapted to closethe interior of said casing, and means for clamping the said cover to said casing.

6. In combination an electrical controller comprising a casing-having stationary contacts, a controlling mechanism consisting of a frame, a rotating drum, contact fingers, fixed contacts, flexible connectors' b'etween contact fingers and fixed contacts, a sealing cover for said casing, means for operating the said controlling mechanism mounted on and extending through said cover, and a split clamping ring engaging said casing and cover and forcing said cover to said casing.

7. A flame-proof controller comprising a casing having an open-top and an inner seat at its bottom, stationary current leading in and out terminals provided with contact blades within and attached to and insulated from said casing, a controlling mechanism having an upper and a lower mounting plate, said lower plate engaging said seat, and said controlling mechanism adapted to-be inserted in said casing or withdrawn from said casing as a unitary structure through said open top and having terminals provided with contact blades so constructed, arranged and adapted'to automatically engage or disengage said contact blades or the stationary terminals of the casing on the insertion or withdrawal of the controlling mechanism from the casing, a cover for and engaging said open top of the casing so constructed, arrangcdand adapted to hermetically seal the interior oi said casing and prevent the emission oi a spark or fire within the casing to the exterior thereof, and means connected with and passing through said cover to: operating the controlling mechanism.

25. A -flame-proof electrical controller comprising a casing having an open top and stationary terminals, a controlling mechanism adapted to be inserted or withdrawn from said casing as a unitary structure through said open top and having terminals so constructed, arranged and adapted to automatically engage-or disengage said stationary terminals 'ot'the casing on the insertion or withdrawal of the controlling mechanism from the casing, a cover seated on said open top, a clamping ring engaging the top of said casing and cover and so constructed, arranged and adapted to force, said cover on the top of the casing to hermetically seal-the interior of said casing and prevent the emission of asparlr orfire within the casing to the exterior thereof, and means for operating the controlling mechanism. I 9. A flame-proof'electrical controller comprising a casing having stationary terminals and an open top provided with a seat, a controlling mechanism adapted to be inserted or withdrawn from said casing as a unitary structure'through said open top and having terminals so constructed, arranged and adapted to automatically engage or disengage said stationary terminals of the easi'ng'.-on the-insertion or withdrawal of the controlling rhechanismflfrom .the' casing, a cover disposed in the seat of said open top, a split clamping ring so constructed, arranged and adapted to engage the peripheral edges of the casing top and'cover and force said cover on the seat to hermetically seal the interior of said casing and prevent the emission of a spalrlcor fire within the casing to the exterior thereof, and means for operating the controlling mechanism.

I 10; A flame-proof controller comprising a casing having an open top and an inner seat at its bottom, stationary current leading in and out terminals within and attached'to and insulated from said casing, a controlling mechanism adapted to bainserted in said casing and engage said. seat or withdrawn from said casing as aunitary structure through said open top and having terminals so constructed, arranged and adapted to iii 1,610,228 BEST AVAILABLE COP automatically engage or disengage said stationary terminals of the casing on the insertion or withdrawal of the controlling mechanism from the casing, a cover for said open top of the casing, a hinged spllt ring engaging the top of said casing and cover and so constructed, arranged and adapted to clamp said cover to the casing and hermetically seal the interior of said casing and prevent the emission of a spark or fire within the casing to the exterior thereof, and means for operating said controlling mechanism.

11. A flame-proof controller comprising a casing having an open top and an inner seat at its bottom. stationary current leading in and out terminals provided with fixed contact blades within and attached to and insulated from said casing, a controlling mechanism adapted to be inserted in said casing and engage said seator withdrawn from said casing as a unitary structure through said open top and having terminals provided with contact blades so constructed, arranged and adapted to automatically engage or disengage said contact blades of the stationary terminals of the casing on the insertion or withdrawal of the controlling mechanism fromthe casing, a cover for said open top of the casing, a hinged split ring engaging the top of the casing and cover and so constructed, arranged and adapted to clamp said cover to the casing and hermetically seal the interior of said casing and prevent the emission of a spark or fire within the casing to the exterior thereof means for tightening or drawing together the sections of the split ring, and means for operating said controlling mechanism.

In testimony whereof, we hereunto aflix our signatures.

EDWIN H. ALLFREE. ALBERT R. WILLIAMS. 

